2024 Annual Editor's Choice Awards

2024 has been a great year of great products from some excellent manufacturers.  There have been many that have come across my desk this year.  Only the best earn our Editor’s Choice Award.  This is a recap of all of those great products that have earned the award this year.  Below are links to their reviews. 

Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX Ice Motherboard

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/05/gigabyte-z790-aorus-elite-ax-ice.html

 

JBL Charge 5

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/08/jbl-charge-5-review.html

 

JBL PartyBox Club 120

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/09/jbl-partybox-club-120-review.html

 

JBL Tour Pro 2

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/03/2024-annual-headphone-shootout-part-2.html

 

JBL Tour One M2

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/03/2024-annual-headphone-shootout-part-2.html

 

Kenwood DVR-A610WDP GPS Dual Camera Dashcam

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/08/kenwood-dvr-a610wdp-gps-integrated-dual.html

 

Kicker 51KSS365 3-Way Component Speaker System

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/05/kicker-51kss365-65-inch-3-way-component.html

 

Master & Dynamic MW09 True Wireless IEM

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/03/2024-annual-headphone-shootout-part-2.html

 

PSB M4U 9 In Ear Monitor

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/03/2024-annual-headphone-shootout-part-2.html

 

RBH Sound Impression 5600-iwr Reference Series Soundbar

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/12/rbh-sound-impression-5600-iwr-reference.html

 

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/03/2024-annual-headphone-shootout-part-2.html

 

Thermaltake Argent E700 Real Leather Gaming Chair

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/06/thermaltake-argent-e700-real-leather.html

 

Torres Coolify 3 Wearable Air Conditioner

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/02/torras-coolify-3-wearable-air.html

 

It’s been an amazing year, with some great products.  Some of them have been fairly unique.  We look forward to what 2025 will bring.  Thanks for your support.  Stay tuned to more reviews to come in the new year.  And from our family to yours, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!

2024 Annual Holiday Gadget Gift Guide

It’s that time of the year, with Halloween over, and Thanksgiving is just around the corner.  Which means it is time for our annual Holiday Gadget Gift Guide.  Our gift guide includes a variety of products at different price points.  It is supposed to help to provide you readers with ideas of gifts to your loved ones.  Provided below are the products in this years gift guide, with a brief description and link to the review, or review schedule of when the review will be published. All of those included are excellent products from great manufacturer.

 

You can fan electronics in most products these days, and some even have an app.  That’s the case with the BioBidet.  Not only does it clean your tooshie, it has a heated seat for those cold winter months, and even heated air dry.  And yes, while you’re sitting on the throne, you can control everything thru an app on your smartphone.  Check out the link to the review below:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/08/biobidet-by-bemis-bb-1200-elongated.html

 

Cobra has some great electronic products.  While they may be known primarily for their radar detectors, they also have some great dashcams as well.  The one we reviewed is a true 4K dashcam, and also includes a 2^nd camera.  That way you can record not just what happens in front of you, but also behind you.  Or for you Uber drivers, you can also record what is happening inside the car, for your security.  Check out the link t the full review below:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/08/cobra-sc-250r-true-4k-dash-cam-review.html

 

There’s a lot of gamers out there.  To truly enjoy your gaming, you need a good computer system.  And it all starts with the motherboard.  If it’s time for an upgrade, Gigabyte makes some of the best. Check out the link to the motherboard review below:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/05/gigabyte-z790-aorus-elite-ax-ice.html

 

Movies are entertaining.  No matter your preference, there’s movies for you to enjoy.  They are that much more enjoyable with a good surround system.  But if you do not want to deal with all the wires involved with a receiver and the speakers, a quality soundbar could be just what you need.  And JBL has some great one, including the JBL Bar 500.  Check out the review link below:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/02/jbl-bar-500-soundbar-with-wireless.html

 

If you like to do things outdoors, don’t forget to take your music with you.  A Bluetooth speaker paired with your smartphone, can make your tunes enjoyable to you and those who are with you.  JBL has huge option of Bluetooth speakers.  Their JBL Charge 5 is a great one.  Check out the link to the review below:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/08/jbl-charge-5-review.html

The JBL Charge 5 I a great little Bluetooth speaker.  But if it’s party time and you have a bunch of people over it won’t quite cut it.  You need something bigger for more volume.  JBL still has you covered with their PartyBox Club 120. Check out the review with the link below:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/09/jbl-partybox-club-120-review.html

 

While Kenwood is great with car stereo products, they have expanded.  This includes dashcams.  So now while Kenwood can provide great products for you to enjoy your tunes, they can also help with your security.  Their DVR-A610WDP includes both front and rear cameras.  Check out the review with the link below:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/08/kenwood-dvr-a610wdp-gps-integrated-dual.html

 

I enjoy Kenwood’s car stereo products.  Their line of receivers are some of the best you can buy.  In fact they have a full line, to provide not just a receiver, but also speakers, amps, and subwoofers. Their eXcelon line of subwoofers are great too.  We reviewed their Kenwood eXcelon KFC-XW1241HP subwoofer.  Check out the review with the link below:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/09/kenwood-excelon-kfc-xw1241hp-car.html

 

While I love to be Livin’ Loud with my car stereo, Kicker loves to assist.  And while it’s one thing to have your car stereo loud, you want it to sound good doing it.  This is where kicker excels.  And the Kicker 51KSS365 3-way component system is just one example.  Check out the review with the link below:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/05/kicker-51kss365-65-inch-3-way-component.html

 

I'll admit I like a lot of bass. But the truth is, without bass in your home speaker system, the sound is just flat.  A subwoofer will not just really let you know when the T-Rex is coming, your sound will overall sound more full.  And you don't need a huge subwoofer to get good base.  RBH Sound has a relatively small on in their RBH Sound Impression 12i powered 12-inch subwoofer with 12-inch passive radiator.  Stay tuned for the full review, published here by the weekend ending 11/24/2024. 

TV speakers have come a long way in recent years.  But they are still really lacking in sound quality.  It's also understandable that a full surround sound speaker system with the components, wiring, and all the mounting, can be a little intimidating.  A sound bar could be perfect for you.  And if you want the best one, RBH Sound is what you may need, in their RBH Sound 5600-iwr. Check back hear for the full review published here by the weekend ending 12/15/2024.  

You may have heard of SoundSkins with their great sound deadening kits.  They help you sound system sound better. And now they have expanded their product lines with subwoofer enclosures.  And they have them for vehicle specific as well.  And their build quality would carry over to the remaining models.  Check out the review with the link below:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/08/soundskins-dual-12-inch-sealed.html

 

If you travel, you probably bring a lap top with you.  But for quick weekend trips, just your laptop bag is not big enough. Targus has a solution.  It’s their CityGear Overnight bag.  Now you only need one bag.  Check out he review with the link below:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/04/targus-15-173-citygear-overnight-travel.html

 

Some of us may find ourselves in front of a computer for long hours.  This could be do to losing track of time while getting your game on, or maybe it’s working from home.  Working from home has gotten a lot more popular thanks to COVID. Either way, a high quality gaming chair could be what your body needs.  A quality chair will also give years of use, and Thermaltake provides a product for both.  Check out the review with the link below:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/06/thermaltake-argent-e700-real-leather.html

 

There are a lot of products for building a computer, and it all starts with the case.  And to make it fun, there are some cool designs.  Thermaltake has one of those cool case designs in the Thermaltake Tower 300. It looks like a cryochamber. Check out the review with the link below:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/06/thermaltake-tower-300-computer-case.html

 

I like to be comfortable when I travel.  And if I’m outdoors when it’s hot out, that can be a tall order.  Torras was up to the task, and provided their Coolify 3.  It’ a portable personal air conditioner that wraps around your neck. It even provides heat for winter use.  Check out the review with the link below:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/02/torras-coolify-3-wearable-air.html

 

Yeyian provides economical products, and manages to provide good quality at the same time.  If you are building a system that uses RGB theme, or maybe it’s time to replace your keyboard and mouse, Yeyian has a product for you.  Check out the revie with the link below:  

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2024/07/yeyian-shift-3-in-1-rgb-gaming-mouse.html

We at Stereowise Plus hope that these gave you some good ideas for gifts for your loved ones.  They are great products from some amazing companies.  They are well made, and will provide your loved ones with years of use.  Thanks for reading and following us.  And from our family to yours, Happy Holidays!

 

Yeyian Shift 3-in-1 RGB Gaming Mouse and FlexCam Streaming Camera Review

With computers, the auxiliaries create ease of use and can include some excellent features. Your gaming compute with cool RGB, now you can carry that theme with your peripherals.  Today I will be reviewing Yeyian Shift's 3-In-1 RGB Gaming cordless mouse and the FlexCam Streaming Camera. They are both priced at $59.99 respectively.

 

Features and specs:

Shift Mouse

Voltage:  3.7 V

Programmable buttons:  6

Max. Acceleration:  50g

Integrated memory:  Yes

Cable length / reach:  4.92 feet

Cable sheath:  Braided Cable with magnetic ring

Plug and play:  Yes, Triple mode gaming mouse, wired, wireless (2.4 GHz) and bluetooth

Power:  Internal Li-Ion battery 600mA, USB cable

Buttons:  6

Illumination:  RGB with 6 effects

Current type:  DC

Compatibility:  Windows 11/Mac OS

Warranty:  US 12 | MX 12 | ES 24

Dimensions:  105 x 65 x 43 mm (4.72 x 2.51 x 1.54 inch)

Extra Features:  Swappable Switch Design (Kailh 80 million * 2, an extra top cover and a pull switch tool)

Weight:  80g

Stream:  18 mA

Connector:  USB type-C

Sensor:  Pixart 3395

DPI resolution:  26000 DPI

Switch:  HUANO + 2 Kailh Switches

Button durability:  10 millions

Response time:  1ms

 

Flex Cam Webcam.

Video Resolution:  2560x1440P@30fps + HDR

LED Light:  Yes, rotation wheel to adjust the brightness and colors.

Tripod Ergonomic:  360-degree free swivel adjustment for stability and comfort

Operating System:  Windows® 10 Windows® 11 Mac OS 10.6 or above Linux 2.6.24 or above Ubuntu® Linux 10.04 or above Android

Extra Features: - 3 light colors: White light, Cold White light, Warm White light - Distance sensor up to 2m - 18 buttons Remote control

Dimensions:  68.1mm x 87.6mm x 63.8mm (2.7in x 3.4in x 2.5in)

Weight:  265g (0.6lb)

USB Connector:  1.6 m magnetic ring anti-interference shielded cable USB Type-C Dongle x1

Warranty:  US 12 | MX 12 | ESP 24

Focus type:  Auto Focus

Dynamic Range:  HDR mode 105db

Microphone:  Dual Noise cancelling mics

Active Noise Cancellation:  Yes

Data Format:  H.264 and above, JPEG, YUY2

Field of View:  78 degrees with Vertical distortion

Connectivity:  USB Type-A (with USB Type-C dongle included)

 

The mouse came in a lime green and grey box with high-definition pictures of the mouse on the front and the back of the box. On one side is the Yeyian brand logo, and on the other side has some key features about the mouse. On the back, the specifications of the mouse are shown as well as the contents. The FlexCam webcam came in a similar smaller box, with a high-definition picture of the product on the front with the Yeyian logo on the top and the side of the box. The box has key features listed on one side with the specifications listed on the back. Also included with the mouse was the charging cable, a tool to change out the various switches, and manual. And for the webcam, also included was the USB to USC-C adapter, remote, and manual.

First up is the Shift 3 in 1 RGB Gaming Mouse. The mouse has some nice customization capabilities from being able to change the switch design to being able to program the 6 customizable buttons to your liking. This mouse connects to the computer in one of three ways. Either Bluetooth, by a 2.4 GHz connection, or by connecting with the provided cord. This mouse is also nice and lightweight that feels great in my hand to help combat the aches that often happen in extended sessions. The mouse also has RBG lightings which you can customize thru their app. You can also customize its sensibility to your liking.

The FlexCam webcam has some nice features from having a wide-angle camera that can capture at 2560x1440P at 30 frames per second, to having a privacy slider to cover the sensor for the camera. This webcam also has a ring light around the camera that has a tap button on the back that controls the mode the light is on from white, mixed, and warm. There is a spindle that wraps around the light that controls the brightness of the light. The cam is mounted on an adjustable stand to be able to capture at many angles. It’s also designed to transmit the data faster and smaller to provide better quality and speed to make the video better.

The Webcam has some nice features that make it unique from other webcams I have used and seen. From the spindle around the lighting to adjust the brightness to the tap button on the back to change the mode of the light. And the remote makes it easy to adjust its settings as well.  The mouse has some good creativity with their buttons and switch design. The mouse lasted around the 60-hour battery life it advertises.

In conclusion, I enjoyed these products and they are reasonably priced. From the Shift 3-in-1 RGB Gaming mouse to the FlexCam Streaming Camera, they are great products that I would recommend when you are looking for great quality items and long-lasting. Based on their design, features, quality, and performance, both of these products have earned our Recommended award. To find out more about these products please visit https://us.yeyiangaming.com/.

Thermaltake The Tower 300 Computer Case Review

Computer chassis’ lets you make your computer unique while being able to help you decide on components. There are a lot of options out there, and some are getting rather creative!  Today I will be reviewing Thermaltake’s The Tower 300 series with the price of $149.99. We also received the case stand kit that is available for an additional $29.99.

 

Features and specs:

P/N:  CA-1Y4-00SEWN-00

SERIES:  The Tower

CASE TYPE:  Micro Tower

DIMENSIONS:  551 x 342 x 281 mm (22.5 x 14 x 11.5 inch)

WEIGHT:  8.3 kg / 18.3 lbs.

SIDE PANEL:  3mm Tempered Glass x 3

COLOR:  Matcha Green

MATERIAL:  SPCC

COOLING SYSTEM:  Top(exhaust): 140 x 140 x 25 mm CT140 fan (1500rpm, 30.5 dBA) x 2

EXPANSION SLOTS:  4

MOTHERBOARD:  6.7” x 6.7” (Mini ITX), 9.6” x 9.6” (Micro ATX)

I/O PORT:  USB 3.2 (Gen 2) Type-C x 1

PSU:  Standard PS2 PSU (optional)

FAN SUPPORT:  Top:  2 x 120mm, 1 x 120mm, 2 x 140mm, 1 x 140mm

Right Side:  3 x 120mm, 2 x 120mm, 1 x 120mm, 3 x 140mm, 2 x 140mm, 1 x 140mm

Rear:  2 x 120mm, 1 x 120mm, 2 x 140mm, 1 x 140mm,

Power Cover:  1 x 120mm, 1 x 140mm

RADIATOR SUPPORT:  Right Side(AIO): 1 x 360mm, 1 x 240mm, 1 x 120mm, 1 x 420mm, 1 x 280mm, 1 x 140mm

CLEARANCE:  CPU cooler height limitation:   210mm

VGA length limitation:  280mm(With power cover), 400mm(Without power cover)

PSU length limitation:  220mm

 

The Tower 300 comes in a color printed box with high-quality pictures of the case on the front, side, and back of the box. On the other side of the box are the cases’ specs.  Being secured inside custom-fitted Styrofoam along with a box that holds the stand for this case. Materials used in the construction was mostly metal with some glass and plastic. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, was very good. The case comes with the warranty and user manual booklets, as well as a motherboard speaker and some accessories to help with the building process.

The Tower 300 case has a great compact look to it along with plenty of airflow to help keep your system cooled. A case stand allows you to store the case at a 90-degree angle, making the case look similar to a cryo-chamber. It’s really cool looking actually!  Having airflow vents with mesh filters on the top, bottom, back, and both sides of the case there is plenty of airflow to help your system. There are 3 tempered glass panels at the front and slightly offset on the front held secure by push pins. This case also comes with two USB 3.0 ports, a type-C port, the usual audio ports, a reset button, and a power button. All of which are on the top front of the case.

Some of the features of this case are compatibility with mini ITX and micro ATX motherboards, having a dedicated detachable fan/AIO bracket that can support up to 420 mm AIO cooler, and being able to mount up to eight 120 or 140 mm fans throughout the case.  It comes pre-installed with 2 140 mm fans at the top configured as exhaust. This case can support up to 400 mm GPU along with up to 220 mm power supply. This case is able to carry either three 2.5 SSDs or three 3.5 HDDs for storage capability.

One of the key features of the case is that it has a dismantlable modular design. Helping the case to be easily taken apart and put back together to help make the build and maintenance of your build easier. Because of this design, you are able to reach many hard-to-reach places in other mini cases.

In conclusion, the Tower 300 Micro Tower Chassis is a great case to be able to have an easy build and maintenance. Being able to have a sizable amount of storage capability as well as having a clean and compact look to your computer, is a home run. With the stand at an additional cost, I believe the stand is a must-have with this case to help maximize the look of this case. With the cost of $149.99 for the case and $29.99 for the stand, it’s very fairly priced.  And based on its design, features, quality, and performance, the Thermaltake The Tower 300 Micro Tower Chassis has earned our Highly Recommended Award. For more information, you can check out their website at thermaltakeusa.com.